Rain cape



NOV- 10, 1959 N. H. NYE ETAL 2,911,651

RAINYCAPE l Filed Aug. 23, 1956 United States Patent O RAIN CAPE Numan H. Nye and Arthur J. Ruggles, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio; said Nye assigner to Pen-Mac-Nye Company, Akron, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application August 23, 1956, Serial No. 605,781

2 Claims. (Cl. 2-84) This invention relates to rain capes, and especially to relatively inexpensive, temporarily usable rain capes such as may be made from thin plastic sheet material and adapted to be folded into a compact bundle when not in use.

Heretofore there have been various efforts made to provide different types of rain coats made from plastic and other materials. Many of such rain coats are in wide use today and cost varying sums, but with most rain coats including those made from plastic sheets costing $5.00 or more, at least.

It is well known that frequently people get caught away from home without a rain coat, or in crowds at sports events where temporary protection from the rain is needed. Usually some inexpensive, temporary type of rain protection is desired inasmuch as most people have high quality, heavy duty rain coats available at their homes, but may need some good but temporary protection when caught by a sudden shower or a raln when they do not have their regular rain coat with them.

It thus is a general object of the present invention to provide la new method of and construction for a rain coat or rain cape made from plastic sheet material characterized by the sturdy, but inexpensive construction of the rain cape.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rain cape made from tubular plastic sheet material, which rain cape is adapted to have a head and/or face receiving opening provided therein and which can be easily engaged with the head and shoulder portions of a person and cover his body and clothing quite well.

A further object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive, easily made rain cape that can be rolled or folded into a compact bundle and which will provide effective waterproof coverage when desired.

Another object of the invention is to use a tubular plastic sheet in the production of a rain cape and wherein the sheet or tube is slit longitudinally and overlapped a short distance so that a head receiving opening and reenforcing means there-around can be made from a plurality of the layers of the plastic sheet.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will be made more apparent as the specification proceeds.

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings wherein one currently preferred embodiment of the invention is shown, and wherein:

"Fig, 1 is an elevation of the rain cape of the invention showing it on a person;

Fig. 2 is a plan of a section of plastic tubular material showing one step in the method of making the rain cape of the invention;

Fig. 3 shows yet a further `step in the method of making the rain cape of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an elevation of a attened rain cape of the invention; and

f ICC Fig. 5 is an enlarged horizontal section taken on line 5--5 of Fig. 4.

When referring to corresponding parts of the rain cape of the invention shown in the drawings and referred to in the specification, corresponding numerals are used to facilitate comparison therebetween.

In general, the present invention relates to a novel rain cape, and to a method of making such rain cape wherein the cape comprises a longitudinally split, flattened tubular plastic sheet having overlapped portions adjacent the split therein, which sheet is contoured to head receiving shape at one end thereof and has a face receiving opening adjacent such end. The sheet is sealed and closed at the said contoured head receiving end thereof and at the portions thereof outlining the opening therein, said opening being made in overlapped portions of the sheet.

With reference to the details of the structure shown in the drawings, a rain cape of the invention is indicated as a whole by the numeral 1. This rain cape 1 preferably is made from thin transparent plastic sheet material such as polyethylene, vinyls, chlorinated rubbers, or equivalent plastic substances.

Initially, the material forming the rain cape 1 is made in generally tubular form and a flattened tube is indicated at 2 in the drawings. As an initial step in making the rain cape, the tube 2 has a longitudinally extending cut made in one face or layer thereof and at any desired time, the tube t2. can be cut into lengths suitable for making the individual rain capes 1 therefrom. Fig. 3 indicates a length or section 4 of the flattened tubing from which one rain cape is to be made. The section i4 has a front face or layer 5 therein and a back sheet or layer -6 therein. The front layer 5 is cut into two sections 5a and 5b which are positioned in longitudinally overlapped relation, as best shown in Fig. 3, as a step in the production of the rain cape.

As the next step in making the rain cape 1, normally one end portion of the severed section 4 is shaped to receive the head and shoulders of a wearer therein, as best indicated in Fig. 4 at the contoured portion 7 of the rain cape.

These edges of the front and back layers 5 and 6 are suitably heat sealed or otherwise secured together, as indicated at X in Fig. 5 so that the top portion of the rain cape 1 is conveniently sealed and made water tight.

As another important feature of the present invention, a face receiving opening is cut in the overlapped sections 5a and 5b of the front layer 5 of the rain cape so that a person wearing the rain cape can easily see therefrom and to facilitate the passage of fresh air to the person wearing the rain cape.

Fig. 5 of the drawings best shows that this opening 8 is formed in the overlapped sections 5a and 5b of the rain cape and that these overlapped sections are suitably sealed together as indicated at z around the edges of the opening 8. Hence, the front and bac-k layers 5 and y6 of the rain cape are rendered integral with relation to each other by means of the seals provided in the contoured section 4 at the top end of the rain cape and a water tight structure is provided. Retention of the sections 5a and 'Sb in overlapped relationship is facilitated and the general construction of the rain cape 51 is strengthened by the provision of the seal z yaround the face receiving opening 8 in the rain cape.

The rain cape 1, if desired, could even have a llat top end in place of the contour shown. It also may be best to heat seal the front and back layers together at the head end of the cape concurrently when cutting the generally tubular initial sheet to desired lengths. Of course, the slit 3 can be made in the sheet before or after it is cut to length. Any conventional type of seal means,

including cements, may be used in sealing the front and' back layers or sheets together, as desired.

Usually the face receiving opening S lies completely within the overlapped sections of the front layer.' It is possible to Vsecure a satisfactory construction in some cases Without sealing theoverlappcd front la lers together adjacent said opening 8.

This rain cape l1 of the invention is relatively inexpensive to make as only a few simple operations are required in the production of such a rain cape, it is easy for the wearer to slip on the cape inasmuch as the slit, or cut 3 extends substantially the length of the rain cape and permits the lower portions of the sections Se and 5b to be folded away from each other so that a person can easily slip into the rain cape because of the slit 3 and pull the contoured section 4 of the rain cape down over their head and shoulders.

It should be noted that one could start with a plastic sheet and fold it to the shape shown in Fig. 3, if desired, rather than to start with a plastic tube. Such resultant sheet would be a flattened tubular sheet as described herein and in the accompanying claims. However, the slitting and cutting to length operations would not be required on such sheet.

This rain cape is made from relatively inexpensive, sturdy plastic sheet material of any desired specification and the rain cape can be folded compactly and stored easily when not in use. The rain cape is of a sturdy construction and can be used repeatedly and be folded a number of times Without damage thereto. Thus it is believed that the objects of the invention have been achieved.

While one complete embodiment of the invention has been disclosed herein, it will be appreciated that moditication of this particular embodiment of the invention may be resorted to Without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A plastic rain cape comprising a longitudinally split attened tubular plastic sheet having a front layer and a back layer and with laterally overlapped portions eX- tending the length of said sheet in the front layer thereof adjacent the split thereinfthat extends the length thereof, said sheet being contoured to head receiving shape at one end thereof, said sheet having a face receiving opening adjacent said one end in the front layer only of said Sheet, the front and back layers' being seded together at said one end, the overlapped portions of said front layer being sealed together at said opening which is made in overlapped portions of said sheet to outline said opening, the overlapped Vportions in said front layer extending laterally more than the width -of said face opening but less than about one half the width of the attened plastic sheet.

2. A plastic rain cape comprising a longitudinally split iattened tubular plastic sheet having a front layer and a back layer and with laterally overlapped sections extending the length of said sheet in the front layerthereof adjacent the split therein, the layers of said sheet being sealed together at one end thereof to provide a closed end, said sheet having a face receiving opening adjacent saidrclosed end in its front layer only, said opening being made in the overlapped sections of said' sheet and said overlapped sections being sealed together adjacent said opening to provide a watertight laminated joint in said front layer adjacent said opening to aid in retaining said overlapped sections in a given position, the overlapped sections in said front layer extending laterally more than the width of said face opening and about one half the width of the flattened plastic sheet and being free for relative movement except at said closed end and where sealed together adjacent said face opening.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

